Georgia PT, OT and SLP guide

For OT, PT and SLP clinics in Georgia: three state boards license the disciplines, a patient may start physical therapy without a referral for up to 21 days or eight visits, Georgia Medicaid covers children’s therapy under EPSDT and adults within its own rules, and telehealth follows the patient’s location. Every rule here is quoted from its source.⁠^1,2,3

Who licenses OTs, PTs and SLPs in Georgia?

Three state boards license the three disciplines in Georgia, and each publishes its own licensing law, rules, renewal cycle and continuing-education requirement.⁠^1,4,5 A clinic that employs more than one discipline keeps three registers, not one.

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants answer to the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy.⁠^{1,24,25,26,27,28} Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants answer to the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy.⁠^{4,29,30,31,32,33} Speech-language pathologists answer to the State Board of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensing.⁠^{5,34,35,36,37,38} The board’s page says the hearing aid dealers and dispensers board combined with the speech-language pathology and audiology board effective July 1, 2026.⁠^{5,34,35,36,37,38} A license is a state authorization; a national certification (NBCOT for occupational therapy, the ASHA certificate for speech-language pathology, the NPTE for physical therapy) is a different thing and does not replace it. Compact privileges for practitioners licensed elsewhere are covered under telehealth below.

What does a Georgia license renewal require?

Each board sets its own cycle and hours, listed in the table above, and the register template at the end of this page tracks them per clinician.⁠^1,4,5 A renewal missed is a lapse, and the board’s own rules say what a lapsed licensee may and may not do; the clinic reads those rules before a clinician’s renewal date passes, not after.

Can a patient see a Georgia PT, OT or SLP without a referral?

State law answers this discipline by discipline, and a payer may still require a referral the law does not. For physical therapy, a patient may self-refer to a licensed physical therapist, who must refer the patient on if symptoms or conditions need treatment beyond a physical therapist’s scope, or if, 21 days or eight visits after the plan of intervention began, the therapist has not received a referral from the patient’s provider.⁠^2,6 For occupational therapy, the occupational therapy licensing law defines occupational therapy, including services delivered through telehealth, and requires a license to practice or assist in its clinic.⁠^39,40,41 For speech-language pathology, the licensure act defines the practice of speech-language pathology and requires a license to practice it or to hold oneself out as able to practice it.⁠^42,43,44

The payer’s rule is separate. Medicare pays for outpatient therapy under a plan of care certified by a physician or nonphysician practitioner, and the regulation’s 2025 text lets a signed order or referral on file, with the plan delivered within 30 days of the initial evaluation, stand in for that signature on an initial plan.⁠¹⁷ Georgia Medicaid’s referral and prior-authorization rules are in the next section. A commercial plan’s rule is in its member contract and provider manual, and the clinic keeps a copy of each.

How does Georgia Medicaid pay for pediatric and adult therapy?

Georgia Medicaid is run by the Department of Community Health, and a clinic enrolls through its provider enrollment route before it bills.⁠⁴⁵ For children, the federal EPSDT benefit requires the state to cover services that correct or ameliorate a condition found at a screening, whether or not the state plan covers them for adults.⁠⁴⁶ Georgia Medicaid’s Children’s Intervention Services program covers restorative and rehabilitative services, occupational, physical and speech therapy among them, for members from birth to 21 with physical disabilities or a developmental delay, prescribed by the child’s primary care practitioner.⁠³

The Hospital Services manual covers short-term physical, occupational and speech therapy right after and in treatment of an acute illness, injury or impairment in the Hospital program, and says therapy billed by the individual practitioner is not covered in the Hospital program.⁠⁷ In Children’s Intervention Services, each specialty may bill eight units a month without prior authorization; units beyond that need prior authorization, which lasts up to 180 days, and evaluations need none.⁠⁴⁷ Georgia Families delivers health care to Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids members through care management organizations, currently Amerigroup Community Care, CareSource and Peach State Health Plan, and the CMOs authorize covered services.⁠^48,49 The fee schedule is published by the agency, and a clinic reads the current file rather than a remembered rate.⁠⁵⁰

How does Georgia Medicaid want OT, PT and SLP claims coded?

Children’s Intervention Services claims count one unit as at least 15 minutes and carry the NPI of the child’s primary care practitioner. Each discipline bills with its own first modifier (GO, GP or GN) and HA second, and the modifiers on the prior authorization and the claim must match.⁠^{51,52,53,54,55,56,57} The codes, modifiers and authorization forms are the manual’s and change with it, so the clinic reads the current therapy sections before its first claim and records the manual’s page-updated date in the payer register.

Does Georgia Medicaid pay for therapy in schools?

The Children’s Intervention School Services program reimburses medically necessary services that a local education agency provides or arranges in school for Medicaid-eligible students with an IEP.⁠⁵⁸ A school’s billing is the district’s, under its own program; an outpatient clinic’s claim for the same child is a separate matter with its own eligibility and authorization.

Does Georgia Medicaid cover therapy by telehealth?

Georgia Medicaid treats telehealth as a way to deliver covered services, not an added service. Claims carry the GT modifier as applicable and place of service 02, or 10 for a patient at home. The referring health care practitioner must obtain the member’s written consent before rendering the service.⁠^59,60 The telehealth section below covers the state’s own rules for the session itself.

What are Georgia’s telehealth rules for therapy?

A therapist treating a patient by video needs authority to practice where the patient is located at the time of the session, and the federal telehealth site says so plainly: licensure follows the patient’s location, and a compact privilege is one route to it.⁠⁸ Georgia’s physical therapy board rule requires anyone providing physical therapy by telehealth to a patient in Georgia to hold a Georgia license, apart from the licensing law’s exceptions, and lets a physical therapist licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction consult by telehealth with a Georgia physical therapist. The occupational therapy act’s definition of practice includes services provided through telehealth, and the speech-language pathology board’s rule treats telecommunication services to a patient in Georgia as practice in Georgia.⁠^61,62,63

A compact privilege is not a national license: it is a privilege to practice in the specific member state that issued it, under that state’s licensing law, and a state that has enacted the compact may not yet be issuing privileges, which is why the table names the commission’s current status.⁠^9,10,11 The Georgia Telehealth Act bars an insurer from excluding a service from coverage solely because it is provided through telemedicine rather than in person, and requires it to reimburse telemedicine on the same basis and at least at the rate of the same service in person.⁠⁶⁴

Which business steps are specific to Georgia?

The entity is registered with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division.⁠¹⁹ State tax registration is with the Georgia Department of Revenue, for business taxes and state withholding.⁠⁶⁵ Georgia taxes the retail sale of tangible personal property and certain listed services, and most services are exempt. A provider of a nontaxable service that sells tangible goods collects and remits sales tax as appropriate, and pays sales or use tax on the goods it uses to provide its service.⁠⁶⁶ A Georgia business that regularly employs three or more people, counting regular part-time workers and, in a corporation or LLC, its officers or members, must provide workers’ compensation insurance.⁠^67,68 A city or county business license is a local question, answered by the city hall of the clinic’s address. The startup-costs guide carries the budget worksheet these registrations go into.

What record and privacy rules apply in Georgia?

Georgia Medicaid’s Children’s Intervention Services manual requires its providers to keep written documentation of all services provided to members for at least ten years after the date of service.⁠¹⁸ Two federal periods sit beside it and are often confused with it: Medicare requires 7 years for documentation of orders, certifications, referrals and payment requests, and HIPAA requires 6 years for its own compliance documentation, and neither sets the retention period for the clinical chart.⁠^69,70

Georgia’s child abuse reporting statute requires the persons it lists, hospital or medical personnel among them, to report suspected child abuse they have reasonable cause to believe has occurred, immediately and no later than 24 hours after forming that belief. Its disabled adult and elder abuse statute names physical therapists and occupational therapists among those who must report abuse, neglect or exploitation.⁠^71,72

Which Georgia rules shape a pediatric clinic?

Babies Can’t Wait is Georgia’s early intervention program for infants and toddlers with special needs from birth to their third birthday, regardless of income. Its services include occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language therapy, and a referral goes on the Child Health Referral Form to the local Child Health Referral Contact, by phone, email, fax, letter or in person. For a Medicaid member in Babies Can’t Wait, the Children’s Intervention Services manual requires an IFSP and says therapy evaluations need no physician referral or prescription, while therapy services need a signed plan of care.⁠^20,21,22,23 A child who turns three moves from early intervention to the school district’s evaluation, and a private clinic’s services run beside both systems rather than inside them. Georgia’s autism coverage law requires accident and sickness policies to cover autism spectrum disorders for an insured 20 years of age or under, including assessments, evaluations and applied behavior analysis, with no limit on the number of visits. A policy may limit applied behavior analysis to $35,000 a year.⁠⁷³ The autism insurance mandates guide covers how such a mandate meets a plan’s own terms.

Which Georgia rules shape an adult clinic?

Medicare claims from Georgia go to Palmetto GBA, the Medicare Administrative Contractor for Jurisdiction J, Part B (Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee), whose local coverage articles for therapy are the ones a Georgia clinic reads.⁠^74,75 Georgia Medicaid’s adult therapy rules are in the Medicaid section above. The State Board of Workers’ Compensation sets medical fee schedules, sold through FAIR Health, under which services marked as eligible for telemedicine are paid at the same maximum allowable rate as in an office or facility, and it names a peer reviewer for disputed physical therapy charges.⁠⁷⁶

Which associations and directory pages serve Georgia?

The state chapters are APTA Georgia for physical therapy, the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association for occupational therapy and the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association for speech-language pathology.⁠^77,78,79 On DrSensory, families browse Georgia clinics by discipline on the occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy pages for the state, which the directory builds from the clinic addresses it holds; a clinic appears on the pages of its own address.⁠⁸⁰

Which Georgia cities have DrSensory city pages?

Beyond its three Georgia pages, the directory publishes city pages for 4 Georgia cities, 11 pages across the three disciplines, each listing the clinics whose address is in that city; a clinic appears on the city page of its address without any action of its own, and a city or discipline without a page is reached through the state page.⁠⁸⁰

How many Georgia PT, OT and SLP clinics does DrSensory list?

DrSensory lists 79 PT, OT and SLP clinics in Georgia, on its occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy pages for the state.⁠⁸⁰

Where does each requirement come from, and what does the clinic do?

Which templates does a Georgia launch need?

How might two Georgia clinics plan a launch?

Sources

1. Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division. Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy. Checked October 30, 2026.
2. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 43-33-18. Checked October 30, 2026.
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   “The board shall have authority to refuse to grant or restore a license to an applicant or to discipline a physical therapist licensed under this article upon a finding by the board that the licensee or applicant has: ... (2) Performed physical therapy care and services without examination and evaluation of patients or clients in order to determine a physical therapy diagnosis, prognosis, and plan of intervention, which, in the case of patients who have self-referred, means the physical therapist has: (A) Failed to refer the patient ... if at any time the physical therapist has reason to believe that the patient has symptoms or conditions that require treatment beyond the scope of practice of the physical therapist or, regardless of the patient’s condition, if after 21 days or eight visits from the initiation of a physical therapy plan of intervention, the physical therapist has not received a referral from the patient’s provider ...”
3. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). Checked October 30, 2026.
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   “The Children’s Intervention Service (CIS - Category of Service 840), program offers coverage for restorative and/or rehabilitative services to eligible members in non-institutional settings. ... The seven services are: audiology, nursing, nutrition provided by licensed dietitians, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling provided by licensed clinical social workers and speech-language pathology. ... Children’s Intervention Services are provided to Medicaid eligible members from birth to twenty-one (21) years of age with physical disabilities or a developmental delay, who have been prescribed rehabilitative or restorative intervention services by the child’s primary care practitioner (PCP) or other prescribing practitioner at the request of the PCP.”
4. Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division. Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy. Checked October 30, 2026.
5. Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division. State Board of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensing. Checked October 30, 2026.
6. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). Checked October 30, 2026.
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   “Children’s Intervention Services are provided to Medicaid eligible members from birth to twenty-one (21) years of age with physical disabilities or a developmental delay, who have been prescribed rehabilitative or restorative intervention services by the child’s primary care practitioner (PCP) or other prescribing practitioner at the request of the PCP. ... 801.2.10. The services must relate directly and specifically to a POC agreed upon by the member’s PCP.”
7. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Hospital Services (version date October 1, 2026). Checked October 30, 2026.
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   “Rehabilitation as defined by federal regulation is not covered in the Hospital program. However, short- term rehabilitation services, i.e., Physical therapy, Occupational therapy and Speech therapy are covered immediately following and in treatment of acute illness, injury or impairment when the conditions listed below are met. ... 909.6. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy billed to the Division by the individual practitioner are not covered in the Hospital program.”
8. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Getting started with licensure (Telehealth.HHS.gov, last updated February 21, 2024). Checked October 26, 2026.
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   “Health professionals must meet the licensure requirements of the state where they are located and be licensed or legally permitted to practice in the state where the patient is located”. Its companion page, Licensing across state lines (last updated April 30, 2025): “The ability to deliver health care services across state lines varies based on state regulations”; “Prior to an appointment, providers should verify patient location and obtain consent”; “Compacts allow participating health care providers to practice in participating states”.
9. PT Compact Commission. PT Compact Map. “Member States (38) ... Delaware District of Columbia Georgia Indiana ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
10. Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division. FAQ for the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy. “We are pleased to announce that compact privileges will be available for the state of Georgia staring Monday, March 1, 2021.” Checked October 30, 2026.
11. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 43-33-31. “The Physical Therapy Licensure Compact is enacted into law and entered into by the State of Georgia with any and all other states legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
12. Occupational Therapy Compact Commission. Before You Apply for an OT Compact Privilege. “States not listed below are not a member of the Occupational Therapy Compact. ... Georgia Not Yet not required GA OT Law ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
13. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 43-28-20. “This article shall be known and may be cited as the “Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Act.”” Checked October 30, 2026.
14. Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Commission. Delegate Information. “Member State Appointed Delegates ... Georgia Audiology Alice Cellino Georgia SLP Kelley Claas ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
15. Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Commission. ASLP-IC Home. “Registration for compact privileges to practice is open for licensed practitioners in Louisiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia. As more member states launch, the ASLP-IC Home Page and Compact Map will be updated.” Checked October 30, 2026.
16. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 43-44-31. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact is enacted into law and entered into by the State of Georgia with any and all other states legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows ...”
17. Code of Federal Regulations. 42 CFR 424.24, Requirements for medical and other health services furnished by providers under Medicare Part B (eCFR, up to date as of October 22, 2026; paragraph (c), outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services). Checked October 26, 2026.
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    “The individual needs, or needed, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language pathology services.”; “The services were furnished while the individual was under the care of a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant.”; “The initial certification must be obtained as soon as possible after the plan is established.”; “Recertification is required at least every 90 days.”; “When it is recertified, the plan or other documentation in the patient’s record must indicate the continuing need for physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech-language pathology services.”; “the therapist has documented evidence that the plan of treatment has been delivered to the physician, NP, PA, or CNS within 30 days of completion of the initial evaluation, the certification does not need to be signed by a physician, NP, CNS, or PA who has knowledge of the case.”; “No references to an order or referral in this subsection shall be construed to require an order or referral for outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language pathology services.”.
18. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). “603.9. Maintain written documentation of all services provided to members for a minimum of 10 years after the date of service ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
19. Georgia Secretary of State. The Corporations Division of the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. Checked October 30, 2026.
20. Georgia Department of Public Health. Babies Can’t Wait. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) is Georgia’s early intervention program that offers a variety of coordinated services for infants and toddlers with special needs, from birth to third birthday, and their families. ... BCW serves Georgia children from birth up to their third birthday, regardless of income, who meet one of the following criteria ...”
21. Georgia Department of Public Health. Babies Can’t Wait. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Steps to complete a referral: Complete the Child Health Referral Form ... Submit the form to the child’s local Child Health Referral Contact in the county where the family resides or call and they can take the referral by phone. Referrals to BCW can be made by phone, email, fax, letter, or in person. Note: Parental consent is not required to make a referral, however, referral sources are encouraged to talk with the parents before referring a child to BCW.”
22. Georgia Department of Public Health. BCW Services. “BCW Services Audiology Autism Evaluations and assessments Occupational therapy Physical therapy Psychological services Service Coordination Special instruction Speech-language therapy ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
23. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “An Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is required for members who are eligible under the Early Intervention program (Babies Can’t Wait). ... Therapy evaluations including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology evaluations do not require a referral or separate prescription from a physician in order to be initiated or performed. Licensed therapy providers may independently perform evaluations consistent with their professional scope of practice and applicable state licensure regulations. Therapy services will require a signed POC.”
24. Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. Rule 490-4-.01. Renewal and Reinstatement of License and Penalties. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Every licensed physical therapist and physical therapist assistant shall biennially apply to the Board for renewal of his/her license, submit proof of continuing competency requirements and pay a renewal fee by December 31st of odd years.”
25. Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division. FAQ for the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy. “When does my license expire? Yes, all licenses expire December 31 of odd years.” Checked October 30, 2026.
26. Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. Rule 490-4-.02. Continuing Competence Requirements. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “The Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy requires each licensed physical therapist and physical therapist assistant to participate in thirty (30) clock hours of experience per licensure period which is not to exceed ten (10) credit hours per calendar day. ... Effective July 1, 2018, (30) hours of continuing competence per biennium shall include a minimum of four (4) contact hours specifically in Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence as defined in the Georgia Physical Therapy Act or by passage of the Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination.”
27. Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. Rule 490-5-.01. Responsibility of the Licensed Physical Therapist in Supervision and Direction of the Physical Therapist Assistant. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A licensed physical therapist shall at all times be responsible for providing adequate supervision of the physical therapists assistant, as defined in Rule 490-5-.02 . (2) The licensed physical therapist shall be present in the same institutional setting, as defined in paragraph (3) of this section, 25 percent of any work week, Monday through Friday, and shall be readily available to the assistant at all other times, including weekend coverage, for advice, assistance and instruction. (3) "Institutional setting" means any nursing home, acute hospital, convalescent hospital, rehabilitation center, other inpatient facility by any other name and outpatient clinic which would include private office. ... (b) meet with the assistant no less than once weekly to review all patients being treated ...”
28. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 43-33-3. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(6) “Physical therapist assistant” or “physical therapy assistant” means a person who is licensed by the board to assist a physical therapist, whose activities are supervised and directed by a physical therapist, and whose license is in good standing.”
29. Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. Rule 671-3-.08. Renewal of License/Penalties/Continuing Education Requirements. Amended. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A license issued by the Board shall expire on March 31st of even numbered years. The license may be renewed upon submission of the renewal application and payment of the required fee, provided all requirements have been met. ... Except as otherwise provided, each licensee is required is required to complete during each two (2) year renewal period a minimum of twenty-four (24) continuing education hours prior to the expiration date of the license.”
30. Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division. FAQ for the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy. “All OT and OTA licenses expire on March 31st of all even numbered years.” Checked October 30, 2026.
31. Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. Rule 671-3-.08. Renewal of License/Penalties/Continuing Education Requirements. Amended. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “... each licensee is required is required to complete during each two (2) year renewal period a minimum of twenty-four (24) continuing education hours prior to the expiration date of the license. ... At least twelve (12) hours of the required twenty-four (24) continuing education hours must be on a topic related to direct patient care. This includes occupational therapy assessment, treatment planning, occupational therapy implementation and diagnostic related information. This must include attendance at live presentations such as workshops, seminars, conferences, or formal academic coursework, or real-time, interactive webinars. ... Each licensee must complete a minimum of two (2) hours of the required twenty-four (24) continuing education hours in the ethics of occupational therapy practice. ... (c) A maximum of ten (10) of the required twenty-four (24) can be in "General" continuing education hours ...”
32. Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. Rule 671-2-.02. Supervision Defined. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Supervision as used in the law shall mean personal involvement of the licensed occupational therapist in the supervisee’s professional experience which includes evaluation of his or her performance. Further, supervision shall mean in person supervision with weekly verbal contact and consultation which may be done via telehealth, monthly review of patient care documentation, and specific delineation of tasks and responsibilities by the licensed occupational therapist ... C.O.T.A.s and limited permit holders must be supervised.”
33. Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division. FAQ for the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Can an OTA work in the facility when an OT is not physically in the building? Yes, an OTA can work while the OT is not physically present in the building. Please refer to Rules 671-2-.02 - Supervision Defined and 671-2-.03 - Direct Supervision Defined for additional information.”
34. Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. Rule 609-8-.01. Renewal. “(a) All full licenses shall expire on March 31 of odd numbered years. (b) Application, biennial renewal fee (See Fee Schedule) and documentation of continuing education must be received by March 31 of odd numbered years.” Checked October 30, 2026.
35. Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division. Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensing FAQs. “Renewal is required by March 31 of the odd number years. ... Late renewal is allowed April 1 – 30th of odd numbered years.” Checked October 30, 2026.
36. Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. Rule 609-7-.01. Continuing Professional Education Requirements. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(3) In order to renew a license, the licensee must obtain a minimum of 2.0 CEUs (20 clock hours) during each biennium period of licensure. (4) Not more than 1.0 CEUs (10 clock hours) can be acquired in any one 24 hour period. (5) Individuals who hold licenses in both Speech-Language Pathology and in Audiology shall be required to complete a minimum of 2.0 CEUs in Speech-Language Pathology and 2.0 CEUs in Audiology. (6) CEU requirements for newly approved license holders will be pro-rated during the first biennium licensure period ...”
37. Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. Rule 609-6-.01. Speech-Language Pathology Aides. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A person who seeks to assist in the practice of speech-language pathology must apply to the Board for registration as a speech-language pathology aide. ... 3. The supervisor of record who works full time (more than 34 hours per week) shall supervise no more than two (2) aides under the provisions of this rule. A supervisor of record who works part-time (less than 35 hours per week) shall supervise no more than one (1) aide under the provisions of this rule. ... (i) The supervisor of record shall be with the aide during the first ten (10) hours of direct client contact following training; and (ii) Then shall be with the aide one hour per week after the first ten (10) hours of direct client contact. ... (i) not perform standardized or non-standardized diagnostic tests, formal or informal evaluations, nor shall they provide clinical interpretation of test results ...”
38. Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division. The State Board of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensing. “The Georgia Board of Hearing Aid Dealers and Dispensers is combining with The Georgia Board of Examiners for Speech Language-Pathology and Audiology, effective July 1, 2026.” Checked October 30, 2026.
39. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 43-28-7. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “No person shall, unless such person is licensed in accordance with this article: (1) Practice occupational therapy or assist in the practice of occupational therapy; or (2) Hold himself or herself out as an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant or as being able to render occupational therapy services in this state.”
40. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 43-28-3. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(6) “Occupational therapy” means the therapeutic use of occupations with individuals, groups, populations, or organizations to support participation, performance, and function ... occupational therapy, including that which may be provided through telehealth, includes, but is not limited to, the following: (A) Evaluation, treatment, education of, and consultation with individuals, groups ...”
41. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Children’s Intervention Services are provided to Medicaid eligible members from birth to twenty-one (21) years of age with physical disabilities or a developmental delay, who have been prescribed rehabilitative or restorative intervention services by the child’s primary care practitioner (PCP) or other prescribing practitioner at the request of the PCP. ... 801.2.10. The services must relate directly and specifically to a POC agreed upon by the member’s PCP.”
42. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 43-44-7. “(a) No person shall practice or hold himself or herself out as being able to practice speech-language pathology or audiology in this state unless that person is licensed in accordance with this article.” Checked October 30, 2026.
43. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 43-44-3 (effective July 1, 2026). “(16) “The practice of speech-language pathology” means the application of principles, methods, and procedures for the measurement, testing, evaluation, prediction ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
44. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Children’s Intervention Services are provided to Medicaid eligible members from birth to twenty-one (21) years of age with physical disabilities or a developmental delay, who have been prescribed rehabilitative or restorative intervention services by the child’s primary care practitioner (PCP) or other prescribing practitioner at the request of the PCP. ... 801.2.10. The services must relate directly and specifically to a POC agreed upon by the member’s PCP.”
45. Georgia Department of Community Health. GAMMIS Enrollment Wizard. Checked October 30, 2026.
46. Medicaid.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (Medicaid benefit page). Checked October 26, 2026.
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    “The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for children under age 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid.”; “It is the responsibility of states to determine medical necessity on a case-by-case basis.”.
47. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “802.1.2. The service limit established for the Children’s Intervention Services program is eight units per month, per specialty. Once eight units have been exhausted, any additional units require prior authorization. ... 802.1.4. Prior authorization is not required for evaluation services. ... A PA is good for up to 180 calendar days.”
48. Georgia Medicaid (Georgia Department of Community Health). Georgia Families. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Georgia Families® is a program that delivers healthcare services to members of Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® . The program is a partnership between the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) and private care management organizations (CMOs). Georgia Families provides members a choice of health plans, allowing them to select a health care plan that fits their needs.”
49. Georgia Department of Community Health. Program Overview: Georgia Families (January 2025). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “It is important to note that GF is a full-risk program; this means that the three CMOs licensed in Georgia to participate in GF are responsible and accept full financial risk for providing and authorizing covered services. ... The three licensed CMOs: Amerigroup Community Care ... Peach State Health Plan ... CareSource ...”
50. Georgia Department of Community Health. GAMMIS Fee Schedules. Checked October 30, 2026.
51. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). “Note: When billing procedure codes, 1 unit equals a minimum of 15 minutes unless otherwise specified. ... The National Provider Identifier (NPI) number of the child’s PCP is required on all claims submitted to DCH.” Checked October 30, 2026.
52. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). “1001.5. Occupational Therapy Services ... 97165 GO HA ... 1 per year ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
53. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). “1001.6. Physical Therapy Services ... 96112 GP HA ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
54. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). “1001.7. Speech-Language Pathology Services ... 92507 GN HA ... 8 visits per calendar month; 1 unit per visit ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
55. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). “All PAs must be submitted with the same modifiers (except as noted above for the NCCI edit, modifier 59) that will be used for billing purposes. The modifiers on the PA and the claim must match.” Checked October 30, 2026.
56. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention Services (CIS) (version date October 1, 2026). “Each billed procedure code must be submitted with the usual program modifier(s). Place of service code 02 must be submitted on the claim to indicate the services are delivered through telehealth.” Checked October 30, 2026.
57. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Hospital Services (version date October 1, 2026). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “All requests for treatment codes require use of a modifier in the Mod 1 column only. GP for Physical therapy. GO for Occupational therapy. GN for Speech therapy. Only 1 discipline can be submitted per prior authorization request.”
58. Georgia Department of Community Health. Part II Policies and Procedures for Children’s Intervention School Services (CISS) (version date October 1, 2026). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “The purpose of the Medicaid Children’s Intervention School Services (CISS) Program is to provide reimbursement for medically-necessary services that are received in schools and provided by or arranged by an LEA for Medicaid-eligible students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP).”
59. Georgia Department of Community Health. Telehealth Guidance (version date October 1, 2026). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Telehealth services are not an expansion of Georgia Medicaid covered services but, an option for the delivery of covered services. ... The GT modifier is required as applicable, and/or the use of either POS 02 or POS 10. POS 02 will indicate Telehealth services that were utilized at a location other than at the patient’s home. ... POS 10 will indicate Telehealth services were provided in the patient’s home.”
60. Georgia Department of Community Health. Telehealth Guidance (version date October 1, 2026). “The referring health care practitioner must obtain written consent from the eligible Georgia Medicaid member prior to rendering service. The consent must state that the member agrees to participate in the telehealth-based service.” Checked October 30, 2026.
61. Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. Rule 490-9-.06. Telehealth. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “All provisions of Physical Therapy utilizing telehealth mechanisms must: (a) conform to all Federal and State statutes, rules, regulations and policies governing the practice of physical therapy in the State of Georgia. (b) With the exception of practices and services identified in O.C.G.A. § 43-33-11(d) , individuals providing physical therapy via telehealth to a patient/client in the State of Georgia must be licensed in the State of Georgia. (c) A physical therapist that is licensed in another jurisdiction of the United States may provide a consultation via telehealth to a physical therapist in the state of Georgia.”
62. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 43-28-3. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “... occupational therapy, including that which may be provided through telehealth, includes, but is not limited to, the following: ... (13) “Telehealth” means the application of evaluative, consultative, preventative, and therapeutic services delivered through telecommunication and ... practitioners. This may include, but shall not be limited to, telemedicine, telepractice, telecare, telerehabilitation, and e-health services.”
63. Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. Rule 609-13-.01. Telecommunications. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Any person in this state or physically located in another state or foreign country who, using telecommunications and information technologies through which speech-language pathology information and auditory-vestibular system information or data is transmitted, performs an act that is part of a patient care service located in this state, including but not limited to any measures of speech-language pathology or auditory-vestibular system function or hearing instrument selection, fitting, or dispensing that would effect the diagnosis or treatment of the patient is engaged in the practice of speech-language pathology or audio logy in this state.”
64. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 33-24-56.4. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the “Georgia Telehealth Act.” ... (e) An insurer shall not exclude a service for coverage solely because the service is provided through telemedicine services and is not provided through in-person consultation or contact between a health care provider and a patient for services appropriately provided through telemedicine ... (g) An insurer shall reimburse the treating provider or the consulting provider for the diagnosis, consultation, or treatment of the insured delivered ... through telemedicine services on the same basis and at least at the rate that the insurer is responsible for coverage for the provision of the same service through in-person ...”
65. Georgia Department of Revenue. Register a New Business in Georgia. Checked October 30, 2026.
66. Georgia Department of Revenue. What is Subject to Sales and Use Tax?. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “In general, Georgia imposes tax on the retail sales price of tangible personal property and certain services. While most services are exempt from tax, Georgia does tax the sale of accommodations, in-state transportation of individuals (e.g., taxis, limos), sales of admissions, and charges for participation in games and amusement activities. ... If a provider of a nontaxable service makes sales of tangible personal property, the service provider must collect and remit sales tax as appropriate. Service providers are, in most instances, end users and liable for sales or use tax on all tangible personal property used by them to provide their service.”
67. Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Workers’ Compensation Insurance FAQs. “If you regularly employ three or more persons in your Georgia business, you are required to provide the benefits. If your company is incorporated or an LLC, the officers or members are included in the employee count.” Checked October 30, 2026.
68. Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Workers’ Compensation Law FAQs. “The law requires any business with three or more workers, including regular part-time workers, to have workers’ compensation insurance.” Checked October 30, 2026.
69. Code of Federal Regulations. 42 CFR 424.516, Additional provider and supplier requirements for enrolling and maintaining active enrollment status in the Medicare program (eCFR, up to date as of October 22, 2026; paragraph (f), Maintaining and providing access to documentation). Checked October 26, 2026.
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    “A provider or a supplier that furnishes covered ordered, certified, referred, or prescribed Part A or B services, items or drugs is required to—”; “Maintain documentation (as described in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this section) for 7 years from the date of service; and”; “Upon the request of CMS or a Medicare contractor, to provide access to that documentation”; “The documentation includes written and electronic documents (including the NPI of the physician or, when permitted, other eligible professional who ordered, certified, referred, or prescribed the Part A or B service, item, or drug) relating to written orders, certifications, referrals, prescriptions, and requests for payments for Part A or B services, items or drugs.”.
70. Code of Federal Regulations. 45 CFR 164.316, Policies and procedures and documentation requirements (eCFR, up to date as of October 22, 2026; HIPAA Security Rule; paragraph (b)). Checked October 26, 2026.
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    “Maintain the policies and procedures implemented to comply with this subpart in written (which may be electronic) form; and”; “If an action, activity or assessment is required by this subpart to be documented, maintain a written (which may be electronic) record of the action, activity, or assessment.”; “Retain the documentation required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section for 6 years from the date of its creation or the date when it last was in effect, whichever is later.”.
71. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 19-7-5. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(c) (1) The following persons having reasonable cause to believe that suspected child abuse has occurred shall report or cause reports of such abuse to be made as provided in this ... (B) Hospital or medical personnel; ... immediately, but in no case later than 24 hours from the time there is reasonable cause to believe that suspected child abuse has occurred.”
72. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 30-5-4. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a) (1) (A) The following persons having reasonable cause to believe that a disabled adult or elder person has been the victim of abuse, other than by accidental means, or has been neglected or exploited shall report or cause reports to be made in accordance with the provisions of this Code section: (i) Any person required to report child abuse as provided in subsection (c) of Code Section 19-7-5 ; (ii) Physical therapists; (iii) Occupational therapists ...”
73. Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 33-24-59.10. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(b) Accident and sickness contracts, policies, or benefit plans shall provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders for an individual covered under a policy or contract who is 20 years of age or under in accordance with the following: (1) The policy or contract shall provide coverage for any assessments, evaluations ... (2) The policy or contract shall provide coverage for applied behavior analysis for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders when it is determined by the covering entity that the treatment ... (3) The policy or contract shall not include any limits on the number of visits; (4) The policy or contract may limit coverage for applied behavior analysis to $35,000.00 per year.”
74. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs). “J Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee Palmetto GBA, LLC ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
75. Palmetto GBA. Palmetto GBA - Jurisdiction J Part B. “Jurisdiction J Part B MAC ... Part B Providers in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
76. Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Medical and Dental Fee Schedules. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “The April 1, 2026, Georgia Workers’ Compensation Medical and Dental Fee Schedules are available for purchase from FAIR Health . ... Peer Review for Disputed Medical Charges ... Physical Therapy Services ... Certain services noted with a star icon are eligible to be provided via telemedicine. The MAR for services provided via telemedicine is the same as for services provided in an office or facility.”
77. APTA Georgia. APTA Georgia (the state association's site). Checked October 30, 2026.
78. the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association. the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association (the state association's site). Checked October 30, 2026.
79. the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association. the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association (the state association's site). Checked October 30, 2026.
80. DrSensory. Occupational therapy clinics in Georgia, with the physical therapy and speech therapy pages for the state (the directory's state pages, built from the addresses it holds). Checked October 30, 2026.
81. DrSensory. Clinic Directory Pricing. “Claiming your listing is free. The subscription is $349.99 a year or $29.99 a month for your first location, and $99.99 a year or $9.99 a month for each additional location, not per therapist.” Checked October 30, 2026.

Medical disclaimer. This page is for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is general guidance on running a therapy clinic in Georgia, not legal, compliance, billing or financial advice. Rules change; the clinic confirms each with its source before acting on it.